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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
An 'after the event' apocalypse - how humanity copes... do we?
Everyone has seen disaster movies or read the books - volcanoes, too-close-for comfort pandemics, zombies. We usually see the here-and-now action of how several protagonists cope with the drama and horror of living through these times.
Smith barely touches on the days of his own created world-ending invasion - the day aliens come to Earth and pretty much hand down an eviction order. Yes, we watch as humanity scrambles for the only allowable home - Antarctica. Yes, we see supplies, masterpieces and monuments flown in.
But this story looks at the aftermath of how and why humanity moves onward from here, two decades on. How the species would cope, develop, and look forward to life on a frozen continent for a population physically and emotionally unadapted for such an extreme.
Through the lens of the couple brought together on the day of the ultimatum - Liza and Atto, now doctor and fisherman, and through their daughter, the engineered ice-adapted Echo who must find her place between her parents' lives and her own capabilities. Through the life and passion of Yotam, now caretaker to the small population of genetic experiments birthed to help humankind cope with the cold through their adapted skins, organs and brains. Through these stories is the frightening dystopic situation that will have you reaching for more layers as well as checking the skies.
This was so easy to envision, and so well conveyed through multiple viewpoints. We never get to see the aliens who take over the planet for reasons of their own, we only know that humankind cannot but comply.
Seeing Man start again, using as much ingenuity as is left along with what resources they have saved for themselves is both inspiring and saddening, but the social experiment their new society becomes is also very interesting. I loved reading the descriptions of how people coped, organised themselves, worked in multiple disciplines and self-police, how food is distributed and even how former Presidents acquit themselves following the breakdown of their hierarchies.
The main story itself is chilling (ironically termed). But almost predictable from our experiences as humans - I won't spoil anything here. I found this intelligently constructed and hard to put down. The book leaves a sliver of light at the end for a follow-up and I do hope we meet the characters again to find out what might happen after these events. There is more story to tell.
Terrifying, fascinating and cinematic. So many questions.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
Everyone has seen disaster movies or read the books - volcanoes, too-close-for comfort pandemics, zombies. We usually see the here-and-now action of how several protagonists cope with the drama and horror of living through these times.
Smith barely touches on the days of his own created world-ending invasion - the day aliens come to Earth and pretty much hand down an eviction order. Yes, we watch as humanity scrambles for the only allowable home - Antarctica. Yes, we see supplies, masterpieces and monuments flown in.
But this story looks at the aftermath of how and why humanity moves onward from here, two decades on. How the species would cope, develop, and look forward to life on a frozen continent for a population physically and emotionally unadapted for such an extreme.
Through the lens of the couple brought together on the day of the ultimatum - Liza and Atto, now doctor and fisherman, and through their daughter, the engineered ice-adapted Echo who must find her place between her parents' lives and her own capabilities. Through the life and passion of Yotam, now caretaker to the small population of genetic experiments birthed to help humankind cope with the cold through their adapted skins, organs and brains. Through these stories is the frightening dystopic situation that will have you reaching for more layers as well as checking the skies.
This was so easy to envision, and so well conveyed through multiple viewpoints. We never get to see the aliens who take over the planet for reasons of their own, we only know that humankind cannot but comply.
Seeing Man start again, using as much ingenuity as is left along with what resources they have saved for themselves is both inspiring and saddening, but the social experiment their new society becomes is also very interesting. I loved reading the descriptions of how people coped, organised themselves, worked in multiple disciplines and self-police, how food is distributed and even how former Presidents acquit themselves following the breakdown of their hierarchies.
The main story itself is chilling (ironically termed). But almost predictable from our experiences as humans - I won't spoil anything here. I found this intelligently constructed and hard to put down. The book leaves a sliver of light at the end for a follow-up and I do hope we meet the characters again to find out what might happen after these events. There is more story to tell.
Terrifying, fascinating and cinematic. So many questions.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What happens when our only chance of survival is the most hostile place on earth?
Though the idea and the outcomes of the cold people are pretty neat, I felt like the alien invasion was just the easiest story trope ever and I wished for more elaboration on that part. Why did they even bother transferring human built monuments to Antarctica?
And why create super creatures, fully aware of their possible strengths, created and overwatched by the apparently most intelligent people alive but fully missing their ability to break free through the ice, when they are built for surviving in that environment?
I'm not fully satisfied about some of the plotholes and I feel like the story was rushed at many points, failing to fully explain the things happening. But overall I enjoyed that read and the concept of having to adapt to the harshest conditions thinkable and that it could be an opportunity to finally live together in peace of that's our only way of survival
Though the idea and the outcomes of the cold people are pretty neat, I felt like the alien invasion was just the easiest story trope ever and I wished for more elaboration on that part. Why did they even bother transferring human built monuments to Antarctica?
And why create super creatures, fully aware of their possible strengths, created and overwatched by the apparently most intelligent people alive but fully missing their ability to break free through the ice, when they are built for surviving in that environment?
I'm not fully satisfied about some of the plotholes and I feel like the story was rushed at many points, failing to fully explain the things happening. But overall I enjoyed that read and the concept of having to adapt to the harshest conditions thinkable and that it could be an opportunity to finally live together in peace of that's our only way of survival
Felt like it was trying to do too much. There were too many characters and plot lines such that none of them were that deep. Overall, enjoyed reading it, but sometimes it felt like there were plot holes that made the story seem insincere.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the story of how the human race tries to survive and thrive in Antarctica after aliens come and take the rest of the planet. I don’t normally read a lot of science fiction but this was exceptional. It really makes you think about humanity and what are our best and worst qualities and where should the lines be drawn that we should not cross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Violence
Moderate: Child death, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes